Feb 27: “Leaping” into Sales?

Savvy marketers and promoters take advantage of holidays to push special promotions. You know what I mean – think Presidents weekend, July 4th, and the granddaddy of them all Christmas. So it should come as no surprise that February 29th is also a marketing opportunity. Now this isn’t an “official” holiday, but I guess the fact that this extra day happens only once every four years makes it seem so unusual.

Perhaps you’ve seen some of the recent television ads featuring jumping actors selling various products. To boost occupancies some hoteliers have been promoting a free stay on the 29th as part of a pre-reserved package. Are you participating or do you have your own promotion?

If you haven’t developed a package for this special day, begin putting on your thinking caps. You have four years to come up with a promotion for the next time leap year comes around.

Feb 25: “Table of Eight” February dinner

Hats off to our members who ventured to South Beach for our HSMAI South Florida chapter meeting! The venue, O Asian Grille, is in transition. It’s being transformed into a lounge/nightclub featuring sake cocktails, DJ’s, and dancing.

Thanks to American Coach Lines for providing bus transportation from Dania. How nice not to have to drive nor search for a place to park. Too many topics were discussed to relate to you both on the way there and back between Larry Rodkin (Lawrence of Florida), Linda Sue Marsh (Days Inn Bahia Cabana), Gail Spier (City & Shore/Sun-Sentinel), and me, Julie Wernick (JW Franklin & Associates). Enjoyed the company as well as the conversation guys!

Welcome to our new official photographer for our chapter: Jay Guttveg, President/Owner of Creative Focus. Jay was snapping pictures galore at the meeting. Check out our website, soon, to see some of his work.

We enjoyed a buffet “Asian” dinner. Then, as our originally scheduled speaker had a last minute emergency, our evening became a networking event where each attendee took the mike to showcase their company or product.

Got to meet Ellen Cohen (Media 17); Found out that Christine Greenley, our student chapter rep, has just started doing her internship as an account manager for the Wedding Salon. You’ll be hearing more about their new wedding show coming in November.

Dined with Bertha Morales (Director of Marketing-Holiday Inn Express- Plantation); She’s been there just over a year now and mainly works with the corporate and SMERF markets. Monica Herrera (Couples Best) told me her company is starting up a new website featuring the “best” destinations, attractions, restaurants, resorts, etc. not only in south Florida, but worldwide. She said that their website (www.couplesbest.com) will be launched this fall.

Arnoldo Ramirez (Water Fantaseas) told us how he used to live in the Las Olas isles area but had moved to south beach. Now he’s doing half his business back up in Broward. On the horizon for him is a new boat he’s just bought for mucho bucks that is being transformed to host small corporate groups of about 40+ people.

Sigfrido Varela (Wyndham Miami Airport) was telling me that his property was the recent recipient of several awards. He’s looking for help with linked-in, so if anyone has this information please call him; Met the charming Leila Amorim (Orbitz); And made the acquaintance of Andrea Hoff-Domin (Florida Services and Information) and learned she is new to Florida – only 3 months now – and is catering to prospective German tourists. Their website is in German (soon to be in English as well) and provides a source of information. They are also developing individual tours which they hope to book in the near future.

See you at our March meeting!

Feb 20: Congratulations to Gail Spier!

Congratulations to Gail Spier for being a 2007 Sun-Sentinel Thomas P. O’Donnell award winner. Gail was recognized in the category of Account Executive/Retail Advertising.

These awards are for outstanding performance in the advertising division. They are given to “professionals (who) have helped local and national companies achieve sales success through their creative and effective commitment to customer service and sales excellence.”

You can read more about Gail’s current term as Chapter Advisor in the ”Welcome to our 2008 Board” article posted on February 8th; But we would be remiss in not mentioning Gail’s other fantastic contributions to our Chapter. She served as our President in 2000, but she has also shown her steadfast dedication through her tireless efforts serving on a variety of committees. I especially remember her outstanding contributions when heading up the program committee during which she creatively developed programs that were educational as well as enjoyable.

Please join me in wishing Gail the very best. It’s so nice to see that her company realizes what a great job she is doing. Congratulations Gail!

Feb 13: Romantic Vacations

With Valentine’s Day tomorrow, we are being inundated with ads for flowers, candy, and candlelit dinners. The jewelry stores have stepped up their push for that special gift. We’re all busy trying to find that “just right” sentimental hallmark card.

Now I’m a big one for travel, in general, as well as for an occasion. You’ll find me somewhere almost every holiday weekend and I’ll go most anywhere at the drop of a hat. But for some reason, I’ve never put travel together with Valentine’s Day.
I’m usually ensconced at some favorite (or new) upscale restaurant having an overpriced “romantic” meal. And after all these years together, I still get sent flowers and we still exchange cards.

I should say that I also am a big fan of “playing tourist at home”. Every year at our HSMAI Chapter’s fundraising auction, we make sure to bid on several local hotel stays. We’ve seen a lot of local hotels from a totally enjoyable but different perspective.

So why was I so pleased to read a recent article, “Rooms for Two” in the City & Shore magazine. The article featured boutique hotels offering “luxury and romance minus the crowds”.

What struck me most was the combination of romance and local hotels. The five places featured were: The Sundy House (Delray Beach), The Atlantic Resort (Fort Lauderdale) The Tides Hotel (Miami Beach), The Pillars (Fort Lauderdale), and the Brazilian Court (Palm Beach)

I just don’t think our industry does enough to push this segment of the market. Face it, guys; you’re usually not that creative. You need a push in the right direction when it comes to romance.

So hoteliers, come on now. Can’t you put some more packages together and build in some more advertising for the Valentine’s Day travel segment? May be in a few years, if we’re NOT staying in a hotel somewhere for this holiday it will be like not receiving flowers…Oh well, just a thought. What do you think?

Feb 12: Things About Hotels You Should Know

While driving home a few weeks ago, I caught the tail end of a comment by a radio DJ commenting on a list called “Nine things about hotels you should know.” I offer my apologies to our blog readers that I didn’t catch the original source of this list. However, I did manage to jot down a few of the items as I was driving because I thought it was interesting to hear what someone not in our industry was telling listeners (consumers) about the hotel industry.

One of the list items was that parking fees are negotiable. The DJ suggested that if the hotel is neither full nor located in a major city, that you tell the front desk at check-in that you don’t want to pay the parking fee. He said hoteliers will wave this fee oftentimes. Another list item was on getting the best room rate. It suggested to the listeners that they never call the toll-free 800 telephone number, but to always call the hotel directly to get the best rate. One way to get a room when hotels say they are unavailable is to call back constantly (the direct line) just after 6 pm because that is the time that rooms are cancelled from the hotel’s reservation system. They say to keep calling and you might get lucky. Another bit of advice was regarding when you are in a city and the hotel tells you it’s booked. They advised telling the front desk that you are flexible and don’t mind if the room is under repair, etc. but you will take any room they have. They pointed out that sometimes rooms are set aside for minor reasons which really wouldn’t affect your stay.

The last item I jotted down from the list was regarding cleanliness in hotel rooms. They said to never ever touch the bedspread -- to immediately remove it from the bed (using tissues from the bathroom on your hands) and set it aside. Another item they suggest never using are the water glasses – occasionally not fully washed by the maids, supposedly. They suggested bringing disinfectant wipes for the telephone, remote control, clock buttons, etc.

So what do you think hoteliers? Was this advice to consumers on the money or a little off the mark?

Feb 8: Meet Our 2008 Board of Directors

Our Chapter’s new 2008 Board of Directors was installed at the January luncheon meeting at Laffing Matterz. Home with a cold, I watched the webcast on www.media17.com/hsmai . Boy, did I miss a great event.

I’m delighted to let you know a little something about our leadership team:

Fernando Harb (Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau), President;
Fernando is the Director of Sales at the CVB with previous experience at the Hollywood Beach Marriott and Miami Beach’s Roney Palace Resort. We are excited to have him serve his second term as our Chapter’s President.

Stacie Faulds (Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau), President-Elect and VP, Communications. Stacie is Creative Director at the CVB, where she has worked for 14 years. She is the proud mom of three: a son, a daughter and a website named Sunny.org

Phyllis Festinger (Professional Functions), Treasurer/Collegiate Chapter Liaison; Phyllis has recently retired from her managing director role HSMAI and reports that she is “watching daytime soap operas and eating bon-bons.” As if!

Haydee Casanova (PRA Destination Mgt.), VP-Membership; Haydee is currently with PRA Destination Management but has been a member of “the business” for more than 26 years. She says that “HSMAI is what hospitality is all about”.

Sandra Ginsburg-Edwards (Jungle Island), VP-Programs; Sandy has been the Director of Sales & Marketing at Jungle Island for the past 2 ½ years. Prior to that she was with the Greater Miami CVB for 18 years and has been a member of HSMAI since 1992. She feels that one of the most important things she has learned to do to help her career growth is to build relationships. Being a part of HSMAI has given her the opportunity to do that.

Gail Spier (City and Shore Magazine), Chapter Advisor; Gail has been involved with our HSMAI chapter for the past 15 years (including serving as our President one year). She started her involvement as a student member at U of Mass. She’s currently employed in the Sun-Sentinel magazine division. In addition to City and Shore, she works with Casa & Vida and also the Diplomat Magazine.

Linda Sue Marsh (Days Inn Bahia Cabana), Task Force Membership; Linda Sue is one of the original founding members of the Broward Chapter. Over a 20 year period, she has served numerous times as both an Officer and Board Director. Originally from Hinsdale, IL she came from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale during which her only career here has been as Director of Sales of three Fort Lauderdale Beach hotels.

Dan Cohen (Media 17), Technology/Immediate Past President; Dan is currently the Technical Director at Media 17, a full production company specializing in web casts. He’s been in production for the last 10+ years and has been involved with our Chapter for the last 5+ years.

Julie Wernick (JWFranklin & Associates), Communications; I’m your HSMAI Insider writing the Chapter’s weekly blog updates and assisting Stacie in getting out press releases and updating the website. There’s more about my background in the blog profile. I’m happy to be able to continue to contribute to our local hospitality industry through our HSMAI chapter.

Marcus Michaud (J Productions), Programs-Broward; Marcus is the Executive Vice President of Operations for J Productions, a full service Nationwide A/V & Production Services Company. Marcus has extensive expertise and professional experience in event concepts and production.

DeAnne Connolly Graham (Welcome Magazine), Programs-Miami Dade; DeAnne is the Regional Sales Manager for Welcome & Bienvenidos visitor magazines in Miami. For the past 36 years, these publications have provided quality information for visitors to Greater Miami & the Beaches. Although DeAnne sells print advertising for these publications, she constantly encourages her clients to network and participate in organizations (like our HSMAI) to help them build and reinforce quality relationships as a way to grow their businesses.

Beth Rice (Visit Florida), West Coast Florida Liaison; Beth will celebrate her 10 year anniversary with Visit Florida this July. She was 4 years in the Sales Department (based in Dallas), then 6 years in South Florida in Partner Development, so far. Beth resides in Ft. Myers and is happy to be serving on the HSMAI Board for the first time.

Susan Stern (Hampton Inn Plantation), Community Relations; Susan has been in the hospitality industry “almost longer than most of our HSMAI members and student members have been alive” according to her. She says this must say something about this exciting profession!

Rebecca Wiebe (Sheraton Suites Plantation), Chapter Development; Rebecca is senior sales manager at the Sheraton Suites Plantation. She is originally from Kansas and felt the “need to live at the sunny beach of Florida.” She’s been in Florida for 3 years and in Fort Lauderdale for about 6 months or so. She’s enjoying the beautiful city and can’t wait to be more involved in our community.

Christine Greenley (FIU), Collegiate Chapter. Christine is in her senior year at FIU majoring in Travel and Tourism Management. She is currently balancing her Internship, (a sales position for a high-end bridal show called The Wedding Salon), a full course load, the presidency of our HSMAI Collegiate Chapter, and various volunteer projects including the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. She’s a Canadian farm girl originally from Saskatchewan. She wants everyone to know she’s very innovative and not afraid to get dirty. Her Future Plans: Special Event Sales and Marketing; interested in sustainable hotels and tourism destinations.